Wednesday, October 18, 2017

How to Keep your Child's Smile Healthy:


Healthy gums and teeth are important for your child’s overall health. It’s important to start thinking about good oral health even before your little one has any teeth. A few days after your baby is born, start wiping their gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. This helps remove plaque that can harm teeth about to come in. At the first sign of a tooth coming through gently brush your little ones teeth with a child’s size toothbrush. Moisten the toothbrush with water and use toothpaste that contains fluoride. (There is no need to wait until the age of two anymore). It is also time to schedule their first dental visit. The American Dental Association recommends that your child’s first dental visit should be within 6 months after their first tooth appears, and no later than their first birthday.

For children younger than three years, help your child brush and use no more than a smear (the size of a grain of rice) of toothpaste containing fluoride. Brush their teeth two times a day (morning and night) or as directed by a physician or dentist. For children three to six years of age, you can use a pea sized amount. Continue to help your child at this age, and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, this is the time to start flossing every day.

Fluoride varnish is another safe way to protect your little ones teeth. It helps prevent cavities, and can stop cavities that have already started. The varnish is painted on at a doctor’s office or a dentist’s office. Last year, Clinton County Health Department partnered with all three of the large pediatric practices in Clinton County. Now all three pediatric practices offer fluoride varnish treatments. The next time you see your child’s doctor or dentist ask about fluoride varnish.

For more information follow these links.




 

HABs – Say Algae You Later!

Being a Clinton County native, summer notifications of harmful algal blooms (HABs) at local beaches are nothing new. Certain places in our ...